The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-12

A Shop-Girls Sharp Answer to the Question
Asked by Mrs L. p Rounds

Shop-Gtrps Sharp Answer to the Question
Asked by Mrs. L. p. Rounds.
In a communication to the Chicago Mail a
shop-girl gives the kitchene girls side of the
domestic problem. She says In your paper of
yesterday is a report OF a meeting of ladies to
consider the question of wages paid girls in
stores and the prevention of vice among Them
Mrs. l.. P. Rounds asked the question. "Why
will girls work in store for So so week with
board in kitchena" The report says the ques-
ton was OF answered can answer it. 1t is
because Mrs. Rounds and her lady friends refuse
to recognize the social life and social necessities
of their "kitchen" girls. 1t is because the kitch
en-girl is absolutely without q home and even in
the houses OF the s'best-regulated families" is
thing apart from the rest Of the household.
do not know just what Mrs. Rounds's social
standing is, bat think it perfectly safe 10 say
that many of her young men acquaintauces will
gladly call socially at her humble home and take
out to places of amusement intelligent, good
looking SO so o week shop-girl whom they would
not notice did she grace Mrs. Roundss kitchen
at so so a week and board" 1t is further safe
to say that Mrs. Roundss kitchen girl sleeps in
the poorest furnished room in the house; she eats
after every one else has finished; she has her
evenings out" but it is in the same spirit in
which dog ia let run for exercise; she
no company until the dinner dishes have been
washed. and then her company must be received
in the kitchen. after coming in the back door;
she has nothing of her own nothing whatever
that goes with the idea of 'home," no family
associations, little or amusement She is not
an intelligent. sensible human being, with social
instincts; che is simply a kitchen utensil
Is the picture overdrawn. Mrs. Roundsl OF
course, 1 only use Mrs. Rounds's name to typify
a class The lady herself may see the reason
why she had to ask the question, and perhaps
she NAV be able to the answer The shop
girl works for SO. so week, il is true, but her
work is done at 6 o'clock She has her home to
go to- and no matter how humble il may be, she
meets there love and equality, and she is bound
there by love of parents. and sister and brother;
she can have her little sitting room decorated ac
cordtrg TO her taste: she can receive her friends
at home beneath the roof and protection of her
parents She can entertain them with that feel
ing of hospitality which is rleaeurable that
she cannot ever feel in Mrs. Rounds's kitchen
at so. so week and board" in her
humble little parlor, with its cane chairs and
its cheap ingram carpet OF bright colors, its
chrome pictures. its little centertable with its
collection of books and the family album. At
home she is Miss Smith or Miss Mary, while at
Mrs Rounds she would be Polly" At home
she is the pet of tho family. looked up to, loved
and cared for, taken pride in by her family; her
wishes are consulted; she is somebody. At Mrs
Rounds she is nobody; what she wishes is never
thought Of by any of the mistress family; she
is the last OF the household everyone takes pre-
cedence of her. and she can only do something
when it interferes with one else's plans Is
there not an immense difference in the condi-
tons, Mrs. Rounds. and don't you honestly think
that If you had to choose for your own lot you
woald be the shop girl with home, rather than
. kitchen girl at ''s2 80 a week ana bcard7
The great majority of the shop girls of Chi
cago are just l describe; girls who live at
home with their parents. and with their womans
instluctlNe rove ior nome. ana tnelr american
spirit of Independence prefer their own humble
kitchen, with its own Preside. to that of any
fine lady. even with 80 so week and board
The desire to be queen of a home is just as
strong in the breast of q working girl in that
OF society belle, and SO is the love OF compan-
ionship and social enjoyment and this natural
instinct cannot pe satisfied with an evening
OUT as an occasional visitor in a greasy kitchen.
If Mrs Rounds wishes TO make the kitchen
attractive to American girls she must take some
steps toward allowing the girl who runs the
kitchen in grand house a few of the social